As Myanmar (formerly Burma) is opening up to the world, various experts are advocating for India’s pro-active initiatives in this fast changing neighbourhood. Two recently concluded discourses in different parts of northeast India revealed that the participants in large numbers supported New Delhi’s aggressive involvement in the process of sustainable development in the southeast Asian nation.

The first meet, held at Shillong on 20 &21 April and organized by Heinrich Boell Foundation, Institute of Social Sciences, Burma Centre Delhi and Asian Confluence, was attended by media persons, former diplomats and experts from both the countries, whereas the second meet was organized by Guwahati Press Club on 21 April as an interactive session with a Yangon (formerly Rangoon) based Assamese journalist and political analyst.

Bidhayak Das, who hails from the alienated region, emphasized the immediate role New Delhi needs to play to shape up Indo-Burma policies with regards to present day needs. Advocating better ties
with Myanmar, journalist Das asserted that the country had changed its face rapidly after the 2015 November general election, where Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory.

The soft spoken analyst observed that Myanmar had been adopting a quasi-democracy that would directly or indirectly bring enormous benefits to the people of northeast India. The situation in Myanmar, which was ruled by the military generals for decades, has been improved rapidly in recent past. Commenting on Suu Kyi, Das claimed that the daughter of Burmese independence struggle hero General Aung San is still respected by all communities in Myanmar. He argued that she could really do wonders in reforming her country for a full-fledged democracy after decades of dictator’s rule.

The NLD earlier won a massive victory in 1990 general elections, which were largely free & fair, but the brutal & isolationist military regime did not recognize the voters’ mandate and refused to hand over
power to the elected representatives. The head of the regime Senior General Than Shwe, who grew enmity towards Suu Kyi, even ordered brutal crack downs over the NLD activists. Subsequently Suu Kyi was put under under house arrest as a political prisoner.

After 15 years of house arrest, Suu Kyi was released, but her party was not allowed to participate in the last polls for lower house of Myanmar Parliament that took place in 2010. The military backed Union
Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) swept the polls. The immediate past President Thein Sein came to the scene in place of Than Shwe and the reform process started gaining momentum. The media was also moderately freed from the clutches of censorship.

Journalist Das was however apprehensive about Nobel laureate Suu Kyi’s roles in the Htin Kyaw led Myanmar government at NayPieTaw, as she might face an uphill task to deal with the Burmese armed forces (popularly known as Tatmadaw). Moreover, the 2008 Burma Constitution, which prevented her to become the President of the country, cannot be changed without the support of more than 75 percent lawmakers.

At the same time, it is noticeable that the Burmese armed forces have 25 percent Parliamentarians reserved in both the houses of Myanmar Parliament. Myanmar’s lower house of Parliament (locally known as House of Representatives or Pyithu Hluttaw) has 440 seats, where 110 Army candidates got appointed by the commander-in-chief of Tatmadaw. Similarly, the upper house of Parliament (known as House of Nationalities or Amyotha Hluttaw) has 224 seats, where 56 military personnel were nominated by the Tatmadaw chief. With more to it, the ministries of defence, home affairs and border affairs are kept under the control of the military. Hence, the Yangon based analyst argued that the Myanmar’s new foreign minister Suu Kyi, for the time being, might embrace the Tatmadaw as a partner in the process of democratization of her country.

Speaking about the opportunity of northeast India’s virtual capital Guwahati as a health, education and tourism hub, the journalist turned an expert on political affairs commented that the political will and
supports from the locals would be essential to materialize the dream. He also insisted that the Myanmar government should open a diplomatic office in Guwahati and a direct flight from the city to either
Mandalay or Yangon be operated for the benefit of the commuters. He however did not forget to mention about various challenges in chasing the dream as a number of militant outfits from northeast India were still taking shelter in the jungles of northern Myanmar. The rebel outfits are also reportedly enjoying China’s inherent support.

As Beijing remains influential to the Myanmar government till now, the northeastern militants may continue enjoying the privileges there for some more years. However, it seems to be difficult for the militant outfits including Paresh Barua run United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) to
achieve much from their hideouts in Myanmar, even though the militants from the region recently formed an umbrella of insurgent outfits named United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia.

Earlier addressing the Shillong meet, titled as India- Myanmar Media Dialogue, former Indian ambassador to Myanmar Rajiv Bhatia argued that the media, strategic community, academia and civil society should come together and collaborate in the initiative to understand India’s immediate eastern neighbours. Bhatia also referred to several achievements in Myanmar since the reforms were initiated by the President Thein Sein.

The Institute of Social Sciences director Ash Narain Roy emphasized on more media representation in the bilateral initiatives primarily focusing on the borders areas of India and Myanmar. The Burma Centre Delhi director Alana Golmei also supported his views claiming that the meaningful interaction between the scribes of both the countries would help in the practice of capacity development and partnership.

Khin Zaw Win, who came from Myanmar, expressed hope that the media in both the countries can help boosting ties between the two neighbours. The Tampadipa Institute of Myanmar director also commented that the Act East Policy, adopted by New Delhi should be helpful to the people of Indo-Myanmar border areas. Award winning Myanmarese journalist Ester Htu San commented that the Indian media has better opportunities to be more visible in her country.

#KollamFire Over 100 people were killed and more than 250 injured when an explosion took place at the Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala during a festival at Paravoor in Kollam at around 3 am on Sunday. As the temple festival was on, there was fireworks display at the temple precincts since midnight and hundreds of people had gathered to watch the show.

As the fireworks display was coming to an end at around 3am, an explosion occurred at the storeroom ‘Kambapuram’ filled with crackers and pyrotechnics materials.

Bringing relief to the people of northeast India, the Gauhati High Court recently dismissed a public interest litigation [PIL] for permanently halting the construction of a war memorial on the northern bank of historic Dighalipukhuri [literary meaning long pond] arguing that the construction activities would affect the ecology of the pond and also destroy its link between present and the past history.

However, the high court in its order pronounced on 30 March described that the proposed memorial would inspire the children and youths of Assam to join the armed forces. It would also inculcate in them respect for the members of armed forces who have sacrificed their lives for the country, added the verdict. The division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Manojit Bhuyan observed that the respondents including the State government assured that there would be no construction activity in the water body of Dighalipukhuri and the pond would be preserved and protected from the encroachment.

It may be mentioned that noted Assamese academician Dr Hiren Gohain led a group of Guwahatians to knock the door of the court through a PIL two months back challenging the construction, following which the court directed to maintain status quo on any construction activities around Dighalipukhuri.
Amazingly the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) also came out with a statement that it would not allow any war memorial in Assam, as it would only glorify the Indian armed forces. The armed group claimed that New Delhi had been ‘forcefully invading Assam’ and hence it would continue opposing the project.

Initiated by Sainik Welfare Board of Assam, the war (martyr’s) was financed by Assam government and its foundation stone was laid on 18 May last year by State chief minister Tarun Gogoi. Acclaimed Assamese sculptor Biren Singha designed the statues and other artifacts for the 100 million budget project.

The memorial is designed to comprise the statues of Ahom General Lachit Barphukan with many other soldiers – who fought the 1671 Battle of Saraighat (over the mighty river Brahmaputra), an Amar Jawan Jyoti reverse rifle with a helmet on top, a uniformed soldier with his rifle reverse arm salute and also relief panels depicting iconic battle scenes from pre and post independent India.

Sainik Welfare Board of Assam director commodore (retired) Kamalesh Chandra Choudhury earlier said in an affidavit to the court that the construction of war memorial started on the government land outside the area of Dighalipukhuri. He also committed that no construction activity would be carried out in the water body of the 4.5-hectare tank.

Regarding the location Choudhury highlighted that the Dighalipukhuri played an immense role in the famous naval battle of Saraighat and hence it would be the most appropriate place for a war memorial in the whole of Assam. Moreover, a war memorial in the city was a long standing demand from the patriotic people of the alienated region, added Choudhury.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic People’s Front Assam [PPFA] welcomed the verdict clearing all hurdles to complete the proposed memorial in the heart of the city. Many civil society groups including the PPFA supported the move to erect a war memorial and the court directive had finally vindicated their stand.

A Kashmiri artist has alleged that Facebook removed his cartoon on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Mir Suhail Qadiri posted the cartoon on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of Afzal Guru’s execution. The creation showed roots growing out of Afzal Guru’s grave in Delhi’s Tihar jail and connecting with the roots of a large tree named Kashmir. Afzal Guru was hanged and buried inside the Tihar jail complex on February 10, 2013, for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack. He was a surrendered militant from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir.

Facebook confirmed to First Post that it removed the artist’s creation. “We remove any comments – posted by anyone – that praise or support terrorist groups or their actions,” a Facebook spokesperson told First Post.

Mir Qadiri said facebook had even blocked him from posting anything on his Facebook page – MIR Suhail. News Hour India however found out that Qadiri’s page has been unblocked and he has reposted the controversial cartoon on his Facebook page.

A comment on the post read: “Even Mark Zuckerberg is crushing Kashmir movement by all means, To strengthen his Stakes in India. I don’t think there was anything wrong in this cartoon. Time for explanation Facebook for how long power will determine fates of ideas and opinion?”

Meanwhile, student groups at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) clashed over an event against the execution of Afzal Guru and separatist leader Maqbool Bhat and Kashmir’s right to self-determination.

In a nerve-racking incident, a formerBSF jawancommitted suicide in front ofHaryana secretariatbuilding inChandigarhand accused police officials of raping his 15-year-old daughter for several days.

Sandeep Kumar has left asuicidenote that gives disturbing details of the sequence of events that led him to this extreme step. Sandeep was taken to PGI hospital in Chandigarh where doctors failed to revive him.

The suicide note states that cops from the Kharkhoda police station inSonepat district of Haryana used to visit Sandeep’s house in the night and rape his daughter. The police constables threatened Sandeep because of which he did not raise an alarm.

The former BSF jawan has held his wife, Manju, and cops of Kharkhoda police station responsible for his suicide in the letter. Manju is Sandeep’s second wife.

The residents of northeast India, whom the mainstream Indian agencies often misunderstand as sympathizers to various separatist militant outfits, joined in 67th Republic Day celebrations one and all to pay their heartfelt tributes to the martyrs. For the first time in recent decades, the auspicious day on 26 January 2016 was observed without a single incident of violence across the region that is surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), Burma and Bangladesh.

The people of trouble-torn Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim have participated in both government and community celebrations on R-Day to hoist the national flag with great fervour. They not only saluted the martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices for the motherland, but also rejected the militants’ yearly rhetoric to boycott the R-Day and Independence Day in the alienated region.
The northeast militants under various banners namely United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, co-ordination committee of Manipur based militant outfits, Garo National Liberation Army, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council etc called for a total shutdown in the region on R-Day this time too raising voices against the Union government in New Delhi. A joint statement issued the rebels asserted that there is no reason for Western South East Asia to celebrate India’s R-Day. They also argued that the citizens of the region should introspect and analyze Indian policy here and initiate to dislodge Indian occupation from the alienated region.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, while hoisting the national flag in New Delhi on the revered day, where French President Francois Hollande was also present as an honoured guest, emphasized on various national issues including the peace which is the foundation of civilization. “Peace is the primary objective of a rational consciousness as well as our moral universe. It is the foundation of civilization and a necessity for economic progress. And yet, we have never been able to answer a simple question: why does peace remain so elusive?” said President Mukherjee. The President also highlighted that India today is a rising power, a country fast emerging as a global leader in science, technology, innovation and start-ups, and whose economic success is the envy to the world. He also added that love for one’s motherland is the basis of all progress.
Meanwhile, the Governors and chief ministers of northeast India unfurled the tri-colour in their respective capital cities in presence of dignitaries and general audience. Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan, while unfurling the tricolour at Polo Ground in Shillong, expressed concerns about the ongoing internal security problems in Garo hills locality. The Governor, even after appealing the local militants to come forward for peace talks, reiterated that the security agencies would deal with the situation and neutralize militant activities.

Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh hoisted the national flag at historic Kangla fort in Imphal. He appreciated the people for joining the celebrations across the State despite militants’ boycott call and urged everyone to make Manipur a peaceful and prosperous State in the coming days. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi also expressed his gratitude to the people for spontaneously celebrating the R-Day.

“The spontaneous response of all sections of the people to celebrate the 67th R-Day defying the boycott call given by the proscribed organisations is an indication that the people want peace and development and not rebellion,” said Gogoi while hoisting the tri-colour in Guwahati. He also added that the people’s participation on R-Day functions waiving the tricolour in hands indicated that the insurgents groups were losing popular support from the common people. Gogoi however asked the fugitive militant leader Paresh Barua, who leads the anti-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom, to shun the path of violence and join in the mainstream for the sake of Assam’s overall interest.

Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, while unfurling the tri-colour in Kohima, urged all Naga underground groups to leave the path of violence. Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen (Rtd) Nirbhay Sharma, while unfurling the flag in Aizawl, emphasized on the connectivity in all dimensions, which is essential for economic growth and development.

The Governor predicted that the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, once it is completed, would open up great opportunities for the international trades with various ASEAN countries. Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy unfurled the tricolor in Agartala and expressed hope that India-Bangladesh relations would further improve as bus services between the two countries had encouraged the people for more trade & commerce.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa, while hoisting the flag in Itanagar, called upon all government officers and employees to work with full commitment for an efficient, people-friendly, corruption-free administration in hilly State. “We have to ensure smooth, prompt, hassle-free delivery of public services. We have to provide corruption-free administration and all those involved in corrupt practices and other unlawful activities must be dealt in with firm hands,” said Governor Rajkhowa.

Along with the nation, the city based scribes and patriotic citizens celebrated the R-Day at Guwahati Press Club. Editor-journalist Girindra Kumar Karji hoisted the national flag in the morning, following which the participants took out a procession on the streets. Senior journalist DN Bezbarua and social worker Ajay Dutta led the procession where many children also took part lifting the tri-colour.

Meanwhile, four distinguished personalities from the region were declared as Padma award winners on the occasion of 67th R-Day. Eminent Manipuri theatre personality Heisnam Kanhailal was announced as a recipient of Padma Bhushan in art-theatre category, where as noted Assamese journalist DN Bezbaruah was selected for Padma Shri. Similarly Ajoy Dutta (Assam), Prahlad Tasa (Assam), Kameshwaram Brahma (Assam), Tokheho Sema (Nagaland) and Veena Tandon (Meghalaya) were also nominated for the important civilian award.
Prior to the celebration as usual, the Journalists’ Forum Assam had ridiculed the militants’ R-Day boycott call and appealed to each and every patriotic resident of the region to hoist the national flag on the auspicious day and pay homage to the martyrs. The forum argued that if the citizens do not recognize the immense sacrifice made by millions of known and unknown freedom fighters to make India an independent nation, ‘we would only turn ourselves as the most ungrateful nationals on the planet’.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with loud cheers as he arrived at Rajpath for the annual #RepublicDay parade today morning. The Prime Minister first paid homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti to ‘immortal soldiers’ who sacrificed their lives for the country.

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India is celebrating its 67th Republic Day today – 26th January 2016. India became an independent Republic on this day and it is marked with an annual parade at Rajpath in the heart of New Delhi. French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest for the Republic day function this year.

Francois Hollande arrived with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at Rajpath. They were received by PM Modi.

A splendid and colourful display of India’s military might and cultural diversity followed.

Yet another incident of moral policing has come to light in Maharashtra. This time at Ulhasnagar area of Thane district. A video showing a police official thrashing a youth and abusing his female companion has gone viral on social media. The incident has sparked outrage on social media with people demanding action against the cops.

A youth and his female friend were reportedly sitting in an auto-rickshaw when the police official accompanied by a constable approached them. He posed few questions to the youth and then started thrashing him. When his female friend tried to intervene, the police official is seen abusing her.

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The senior police official has been identified as Mohan Waghmare of Ulhasnagar’s Hill Line police station. An inquiry has reportedly been ordered against him. He has argued that he was driven into action as locals of the area complained that young couples had allegedly indulged in obscene acts.

This is not the first time that Maharashtra police have been caught on the wrong foot for moral policing. In August this year, Mumbai police had rounded up 13 couples and 35 others in raids at hotels and beach for ‘indecent behaviour’ at public places.

Two beggars are sitting side by side on a street in Rome, Italy. One has a Cross in front of him; the other one is holding the Star of David. Many people go by, look at both beggars, but only put money into the hat of the beggar sitting behind the Cross.

The Pope comes by. He stops to watch the throngs of people giving money to the beggar who holds the Cross while none give to the beggar holding the Star of David. Finally, the Pope approaches the beggar with the Star of David and says,

“My poor fellow, don’t you understand? This is a Catholic country; this city is the seat of Catholicism. People aren’t going to give you money if you sit there with a Star of David in front of you, especially when you’re sitting beside a beggar who is holding a Cross. In fact, they would probably give more money to him just out of spite.” The beggar with the Star of David listened to the Pope, smiled, and turned to the beggar with the Cross and said, “Jignessbhai, look who’s trying to teach the Patel brothers about bijness!”

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A man approached a Gujarati in Ahmedabad Railway Station.

“Sir, I have lost my purse and all my money in it. I need ₹150 for rail ticket and another ₹ 50 for the bus fare to reach home. Will you help me?

While the European nations are presently facing a massive human flow mostly comprising the victims of wars in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, India’s eastern region is also pursuing a similar debate over thousands of asylum seekers from the other side of international border.

The basic difference between the two is that, where the European society is in favour of supporting the Muslim refugees, civil society groups in Assam are agitating against the Indian government’s decision to support the non-Muslim asylum seekers from Bangladesh and Pakistan. In a recent notification, the Indian government declared that on humanitarian considerations it has decided to ‘exempt Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities, who have entered India on or before 31 December 2014 from the relevant provisions of rules and order made under the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920 and the Foreigners Act 1946, in respect of their entry and stay in India without such documents or after the expiry of those documents, as the case may be’.

The 7 September 2015 notification issued by the Narendra Modi led government at the Centre also explained that ‘a large number of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in those countries, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists, were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution’. They have entered India either without any valid documents, including passport/other travel documents or with valid documents but the validity of such document has expired, added the notification.

Though the directive of the Centre covered all religious minority communities in Bangladesh (and Pakistan), its impression in Assam was that the Bhartiya Janata Party’s government had actually favoured Hindu nationals from both the neighboring countries, who have already taken shelter in India. Saddled already with illegal migrants, mostly Muslims from Bangladesh, the people of Assam hence expressed their worries on the fresh proposal to rehabilitate more migrants from its crowded neighbour.

Instant and sharp reactions came from All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which led the historic Assam movement in Eighties demanding the deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the State. The AASU leaders maintained that all illegal migrants from Bangladesh irrespective of their religion of practice must be deported from Assam.

According to the Assam Accord, which was signed by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the Assam agitators in 1985, illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who had entered Assam after 25 March 1971, should be deported. Hence, according to AASU, the Modi government’s notification is ‘an insult to the historic accord’. Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which was formed by the senior AASU leaders after the culmination of six years lone Assam movement, maintains the same logic. The leaders of the regional political party claim that pouring more migrants from Bangladesh in Assam would only threaten the identity of indigenous communities by curtailing their political, economic and cultural rights.

Similar voices were also raised by Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity with a number of ethnic organizations of the State, which have already demonstrated their angers against the latest move of New Delhi. Various political parties like AIUDF, CPI, CPI(ML), NCP etc also expressed resentment towards the Centre’s latest directive and called it an election ploy. Even a daylong Assam bandh (complete shutdown) was observed on 12 September to protest against the Centre’s notification. Called by the AJYCP and endorsed by a number of ethnic student’s bodies like All Bodo Students Union, Karbi Students’ Union, Matak Students’ organization etc, the bandh witnessed visible response in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam.

However, some Barak valley based organizations opposed the bandh and supported New Delhi’s initiative to give asylum to minorities from Bangladesh. Nikhil Bharat Bengali Udbastu Samanway Samittee leaders even came out with the demand for permanent citizenship to minority Bangladeshi nationals (read Hindus) in India as they argue that refugee status to Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh will not solve the problem.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also favoured for granting refugee status to those Bangladeshi minority migrants entering Assam or other parts of India because of religious persecution there. Gogoi even claimed that his cabinet of ministers had already adopted a resolution over the matter. The Congress veteran however clarified that Assam would not be able to take the burden of all those migrants.

Assam Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was very specific towards the issue saying that the Hindus have the birth right to get Indian citizenship. The non-Muslim immigrants from countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Muslim-majority nations come to India under compulsion and hence they should be given Indian citizenship with voting rights, asserted the constitutional head of the State.

Meanwhile, a senior Assamese journalist has requested PM Narendra Modi not to burden the economically and financially handicapped State of Assam with a fresh load of millions of unwanted people and urged him to clarify how the evacuated or immigrated Hindu people from Pakistan or Bangladesh would be settled in the country. Chakrabarty pointed out that ‘the problem of Hindu migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot be solved in isolation, but practical measures should be taken to permanently resolve the long-standing problem of minority persecution not only in the Indian subcontinent but also in the entire southeast Asia’. By then, a Guwahati based forum of like-minded nationalistic citizens, came out with the demand for a concrete refugee policy with a legal framework for India.

The Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA), in a statement issued on 16 September, also advocated for the refugee status to those religious minorities from Bangladesh and Pakistan. The statement, signed by Rupam Barua, Pramod Kalita, Anup Sarma, Jagadindra Raichoudhury, Tarali Chakravarty etc, pointed out that offering mere refugee status does not mean granting citizenship to those asylum seekers and hence it urged the people of Assam not to get carried over by the misdirected debate of ‘citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindus’ in the State. The PPFA also claimed that the fleeing non-Muslim nationals of the Indian subcontinent (Bharatbarsa) can never be identified as foreigners in India as they were compelled to adopt their citizenship of Pakistan and Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) without their consent. These people were not responsible for the division of India in 1947.

Moreover, PPFA statement reiterated that one must not forget the declaration of India’s first premier Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his assurance to these families settling down in both parts of Pakistan that they can live happily there, but may opt to migrate to India anytime if the situation arises.